2 months of homelessness!!

Sometimes you don't realize how precious things are until you don't have them.  Well that is how I feel about a home.  We sold our home in Sumter and closed on July 8th.  Since that time we have lived out of suitcases and in the homes of others.  I guess I pretty much took for granted having our own place and our own space.  I am grateful that we will have a place to call home starting tomorrow.  If you think I am grateful imagine how 5 boys must feel.  They have been incredibly flexible, accommodating and patient through this whole process.  I am actually very proud of how well they have managed to live in one room and share beds (or air mattresses) depending upon where we were.  They have been entertained with one backpack of various toys and have basically lived with no yard or yard toys this whole time. They will be thrilled to have a yard and some toys and some of their stuff.  I can hardly wait myself!  

Today I got the kids registered for school.  The boys did their placement testing and we got almost all of the uniform pieces we will need.  Still looking for size 14 black leather dress shoes - who knows if that is even a possibility in Botswana.  Poor Hunter may have to cram those big feet into a smaller size - bless his heart!  Scott was able to find a good vehicle for us.  We should have that on Thursday or Friday of this week.  We are making progress - it just seems really slow for an "urgent" girl like myself.

Scott worked with the team from ADBC the rest of the afternoon building the feeding station. They are working hard building the block foundation.  The plans are to have the foundation finished before the team leaves on Saturday.  Another team from Greer, SC will arrive Friday night and will pick up the building process where the ADBC team leaves off.  I didn't get to see the team today - made lunch for them but Scott delivered it! I am planning on seeing the team at my house late tomorrow afternoon... I can use the manpower to get furniture in its place.

Please continue to pray for our boys as they settle in to a new way of life.  School starts for them on Monday the 6th.  They will be wearing uniforms for the first time in their lives and the older ones are not very happy about that.  The younger ones on the other hand are actually excited about it!!  Please continue to pray for us that we can settle into our home quickly so we can shift our focus toward more ministry.  We love you all and are grateful for your continued support!!  Tonya

Oh Happy Day!

What a wonderful Sunday in Botswana.  We started this morning worshipping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at Old Naledi Baptist Fellowship.  Old Naledi is the church that Alice Drive Baptist has a partnership with.  We arrived just in time for Sunday School where they were teaching about Pentecost.  It was so neat to be in the room hearing the Word taught in Setswana and being translated into English while the lesson was on speaking in tongues.  We were reminded during the lesson that on that day God did not have His message for just one people group but for all people of every tongue, every tribe, every nation. He came to save us all!!  After Sunday School we enjoyed the Praise and Worship and the preaching - brought to us by Jock Hendricks (Worship Pastor at ADBC).  Jock did an awesome job bringing the Word.  He reminded us that we are all the same but our callings and purpose are all different.  He challenged all of us to be like the trees we could see outside the window of the church - Be rooted in God, produce leaves to provide shade for those that need it, be in bloom to reflect the beauty of our Savior, to bear much fruit in our service to the Lord and to bask in the "Son"!!  His message was a perfect picture for everyone in the room.  Immediately after the service we went outside on the church grounds for a baptismal service.  Incredible!!! 14 people took this step of obedience.  The baptismal was made of wooden slates that sort of resembled a coffin.  They lined it with a blue tarp and filled it with water.  The person being baptized had to sit down with their feet straight out and then their back and head were lowered into the water.  The preacher would say,  "this is a testimony to the death of Christ" as they laid the person down. (It looked just like the were laying down in a casket) and then the preacher would raise them up and say "and this is like His resurrection.  Now go and tell the World what the Lord has done for you."  All of the people gathered around would clap and sing songs of praise as the next person entered the pool. We are so blessed to have experienced this day of celebration these new believers and with Old Naledi.

After church we had lunch with the ADBC team.  These guys are awesome!! I think it is so neat that God would put together this team of men to come for such a time as this. These guys are all friends.  We don't have to entertain them we can just be ourselves and enjoy each others company.  We have spent lots of hours together in the van and it feels like we are one big family!! I LOVE IT!!  We took them to the game preserve this afternoon.  You should have seen Mark and Chris standing out of the sun roof with all of our boys...I think we were more interesting to look at than the animals were!  I was the Driver and Jock was in the passenger seat.  Everyone loved it.  The team says we are going back there before they leave.  Jock just kept wishing he had his hunting gear!!! Those were some BIG deer (Eland) we saw!

This evening we came to the house where we are staying and everyone got to Skype or chat with their families.  WE are grateful everyday for technology.  I even got to Skype with Karla, Leandra, and Jenni at Tyler's 3rd Birthday Party.  It is so neat to see everyone's face and hear them just as if I was there.  I am thankful for my friends and I really, really miss them!!  As happy as I was to see all of them - It made me a little sad just wishing I was there!

I titled this blog "Oh Happy Day" because I am happy to have spent it with a wonderful team of friends and I am happy to celebrate with new believers over their baptisms and I am happy that I can Skype with friends across the world and most of all I am happy that Jesus loves me and allows me to be a part of what He is doing in Botswana!

Please pray for this team of guys as they begin construction tomorrow of an orphan feeding station at Old Naledi.  Please pray for us this week: 1. That we can secure a vehicle 2.  That we can get the kids registered at school  3.  That we can get settled in our new home (move in day is Wednesday)!

We love you all and appreciate your love and support.
Tonya

Our First Team is Here

Last night our first ADBC team arrived here in Gaborone, Botswana.  Like us they were without luggage the first night.  Only one member is still without.  Pray that it arrives tomorrow.  Three friends sacrificed to be here and help build the feeding station being relocated to Old Neladi's church site.  I know we have been here for 18 days but boy was it like Christmas when they brought gifts to us.  Chocolate chips, bags and bags of chocolate chips was the biggest surprise.  In Botswana chocolate chips come in medicine size bottles (when you can find them) and are quiet expensive.  All we  could think was how we can now share this blessing with so many other families.  Chapstick in every shape, flavor and size - we are so thankful.  The air is so dry and hot your lips dry out in a few hours and burn.  They do not have chapstick like we have back home.  We are so glad to have it to share with our teams and friends here when they need it.  We received a special cook book on how to feed more with less.  Very important to have with 7 mouths to feed and with 3 who eat like they are starving at every meal is expensive.  Food is fairly expensive for the most part and they do not add a lot of additives like the states and it does not put up well.  You have to eat it or freeze it when you purchase it.  Thank you DuPrees.

We had a great day driving the team across town and to all the local sites.  This afternoon we drove them through the area where David Livingstone started the missionary church movement in Botswana.  He also was a major reason for the end of the slave trade in Africa.  Beautiful views and country but hard to watch the extreme living conditions you ride by.  The conditions are hard on the people here.  When you have limited resources and depend on the environment around you to keep you going it is hard for this American to comprehend.  The poorest in the US are blessed compared to what the poorest and most of the people here experience.   I took our boys to Old Naledi earlier in the week and I could tell it impacted them.  When I asked why they all said they felt helpless and it hurt to see the children in dirty worn out clothes and waiting for food.  The people here stay busy and do not beg or ask for more.  They work to get what they can get and for the most part are grateful for what they have received.  Thank you God for prayers, promises and good friends.    Scott

Two Weeks! - ALREADY!!

It is so hard for me to believe that we have already had our feet on African soil for 2 weeks.  The old saying “time flies” is true even on another continent!   These 2 weeks have been a blur but we are making steady progress of becoming settled Batswana (that’s how you spell it when talking about the people).  By the Grace of GOD we finished all necessary paperwork for work/resident permits, we secured necessary documents and had our container released from customs, we finished and turned in all necessary paperwork for medical aid (insurance as we know it), we signed a 2 year lease on a home, and we have begun to collect the necessary items for our home.  This list seems small but has been quite a major feat working at different pace than in America.  


As I reread the above list it makes me very grateful! Grateful that God is in all of the details of our lives.  Grateful that He knew we would need help and placed us in the home with Jeff and April for 3 weeks.  They have been invaluable to us.  They have driven us all over town, taken us to appointments, given us endless hours of advice (they experienced by trial and error) cooked and cleaned, and have even taken care of our kids so we could do whatever was necessary.  Grateful that He placed us with a church that has church vans and they have allowed us to drive one until we get a vehicle.  Grateful that He created my children with “go with the flow” attitudes.  They have all done so well not really knowing who, what, when or where anything was happening!  They are all “troopers” created by the master potter for such a time as this.  Please continue to pray for all of our boys as we make Botswana our home.  Grateful that God is at work all over this great big earth drawing people to Himself and grateful that He allows me to be His hands and feet.
We love you all and thank you for your continued prayers and support.  TONYA

Baptism and Giving

On Sunday, August 22, we attended church and heard a sermon about giving.  Pastor Norman did a wonderful job explaining about how believers are supposed to give. The idea 100% of all we have is God’s is something most of us are not comfortable with.  We are stewards of the 100% and as believers we give to God 10% as a starting point not an end point of our giving.  It is a testimony of the relationship our heart is in with God.  It is by grace we have this opportunity to give unselfishly because  our relationship with our Lord.

We also had the joy of hearing testimonies for the baptism of 8 people.  Before you are baptized here you are required to provide your testimony before the church.  A young wView Blogoman who grew up under Hinduism told her story of worshipping many gods in her life but none ever answered her or spoke to her.  When she met Jesus she found the one true God who lives and speaks to her as His own.  She no longer professes to be a Hindu and walked away from her family to worship God.  It was awakening to hear young people tell of how God saved them in situations we never experience in our lives.  Testimony of a young man's safety from armed muggers, a family accident in the bush endured 7 days with no help and a young man imprisoned wrongly with no sign of getting freedom from his jail.  After seeking and praying to Jesus muggers did not harm the man, help arrived for the family with medical provisions and healing from their injuries and God saying to a young man, rest for it will be well for you, and the next day he was free from jail.  God revealed Himself in trials for some and He also appeared quiet emptiness when other gods were silent.  This is God's grace how He reaches His children.  8 people were baptized outside the church at the end of service in a homemade swimming pool with the backdrop of the Botswana horizon.  The spirit of the Lord is alive and well in Botswana.  His people have called on His name and the Glory of the Lord is shining.

That night, Parker and I made friends with a young boy named Paul.  He gets laughed at for being outspoken for his belief.  He confessed openly that he was grateful to be a believer but he was sad that so many children would go to sleep tonight without someone next to them telling them about Jesus.  He prayed Jesus would take care of this matter.  Other children shared how God our creator made a beautiful and wonderful place just for them to live.  Botswana is so beautiful but to some can appear ugly in the same view.  Full of color, character and beauty contrasted with a harsh climate with brutal living conditions that makes it difficult for many people to survive.  This makes it hard to understand why the people love the Botswana God gave them so much.  The children reminded me in scripture God says a fox has a hole, birds have a nest but the Lord had nowhere to lay His head.  The children said they have it easier than Jesus when he walked this earth because they have a home to rest.  This is grace say the children.

What did I learn?  Look around and see grace is all around us.  How do I feel?  I love for my new home and the new perspective God is giving me.

Family Fun Day at OBC

Saturday (22/8/2010) was spent at the church for their annual family fun day.  There were 300-400 people at the church competing at various games. They divided everyone up into team colors when we arrived. There was soccer, basketball, volleyball, capture the flag and a few random races.  The kids and Scott all jumped in on a team and played.  I decided to be a cheerleader or just a spectator!  I actually jumped in to help and cut 5 bags of oranges into quarters for the kids to have as snack.  Several of the church members were cooking and selling food.  There was a big variety to choose from.  We sampled several different things including Indian noodles with beef and chicken (very very spicy), curry chicken and rice, sausage dogs, chocolate cake and shortbread cookies.  After lunch the games continued but I had the privilege to sit and talk with Sohoffello.  Sohoffello is an original Batswana.  She was born in the bush and never went to school.  She shared her story of what God had done in her life – AMAZING! When she was 15 she went to South Africa to work as a house keeper for 15 pula a month. (that is equal to $2 us dollars) The funny part of that story is that she had no idea how to keep house.  She had lived in a hut with  no floors, no sinks, no water.  The family she was with taught her everything she needed to do.  She said she was more thankful for the food scraps than she was for the 15 pula. If there were extra pieces of bread she would dry them and send them back to her family in the bush.  After working for the family for 3 years she asked if she could have a raise and they refused.  She decided to return home and try to find other work in Botswana.  She started selling oranges outside the hospital.  The first day she sold one bag.  The second day she sold 2.  They next day 4. Until she finally sold 6 bags a day…all she could carry in her hands, on her back and balance on her head. This became her business.  It was very profitable to her.  She would bury her earnings in a jar under the tree and had no idea how much she had earned.  The Lord blessed her and she was able to build a home – which she still has to this day.  I loved hearing her talk and how she gave God all of the Glory for the things he had done in her life.  Sohoffelo also taught me some Setswana!! I learned a few sayings but can’t say that I could remember them today.  Pastor Norman told her she was responsible for teaching me some culture and Setswana and how to dance in church( oh boy )! While Sohoffello and I chatted I also had the privilege of holding a precious 18 month old Lafika as she slept for a couple of hours. She was so cute and sweet!  She just laid there and snored as we talked away.   When the festivities ended at the church we came back to Jeff and April’s.  April was having Tea with a young Zimbabwean lady named Porchea.  Porchea is looking for a job so she can move to Botswana permanently. April was asked to make contact with Porchea by a lady that had come to Botswana from the US and done a womens conference. She was telling us how bad things were in Zimbabwe.  How the currency had no value at all and now they were using US dollars as their currency.  There was no work there and the government is corrupt.  April asked her how we could help her.  She asked for us to pray for work and for a place for her and her son to stay here in Botswana in block 8.  Her son is 8 and they have been living with her sister and 14 others in a small house about 3 streets away from Aprils.  Clay Smith (pastor at ADBC) would always ask me, “What did you learn?”  Today I learned that most people you meet need a place to stay.   Mercy (April’s housekeeper), Yuko ( the young exchange student from Japan), and now Porchea are looking for someplace to stay.  When they say they are looking for a place to stay they mean a room.   Most houses have “servant’s quarters” and that is basically what they are wanting.  My heart seems to go out to all of them.  So far I haven’t promised our extra room to anyone.  Please pray that I would be discerning in knowing when and to whom I should – if anyone – allow to live with us. 

We are continuing to search for our vehicle and are counting down the days until we move into our home.  Please continue to pray for the Sukups and us as we live together.  They are very patient and very gracious hosts!!  I just feel so bad for them going from 2 to 9 for 3 solid weeks.  Please pray that we continue to settle in become more familiar and comfortable with the culture.  Please pray that we would know exactly what God has for us each day.  We love and miss you all!    TONYA

August 21, 2010 – Yesterday

 

Yesterday Scott and I spent the entire day at the immigration office.  We watched so many people waiting in lines to get their paper work turned in, their fingers printed, and to pay their government fees.  I was reminded once again of the diversity of this world and all I can picture is what Heaven will be like…every tongue, every tribe and every nation.  We went at 10:15 am – the process was suppose to take 30 minutes – and we left at 3:15pm with 4 of our boys papers sitting on the immigration agents desk promised to be done as soon as he returns. I am assuming that will be Monday morning.  While we there waiting God put in our paths 2 young university exchange students from Japan.  The girl was sitting next to me and asked where we were from.  We struck up a conversation about how she came to University of Botswana and why she chose Bots.  Her name is Yuko and she is studying Social Sciences.  There were only a few options for her to choose to do an exchange (what we would call study abroad).  She chose Botswana because she thought it would be interesting to go to Africa.  She has been here since 8/3/10 and is very homesick – bless her 20 year old heart!!  She is having a very hard time adjusting to the different culture and she and the Japanese Boy with her are the only 2 Japanese at the entire University.  She was very sweet and seemed drawned to the “mama” in me.  We shared our story of why God had us here and what He had called us to do.  We exchanged cell numbers and I told her we would have her over when we get in our house.  Please pray for Yuko.  Pray for us as we find ways to minister to her.  Pray that we would be Jesus to her and that she would come to know Him as Savior.

While we were at the immigration office the oldest kids were at the student camp and the youngest 3 were at the house with April.  Bless April’s heart!! I never intended to be gone all day – this just added to my stress of waiting – knowing she was at home taking care of my kids.  Somehow she managed – well she was still alive when got back!! 

As soon as we got home we headed to the Blankenship’s home for the kids to play and for us to have dinner. Bill and Dana are IMB missionaries here in Botswana.  They have 3 teenage children that we met at church on Sunday.  We had a very relaxing evening as the kids ran around their back yard and played video games.  We got to know Bill and Dana and the ministry they do here.  We probably over stayed our welcome – but eventually headed home and to bed. 

We are grateful for who God is putting in our path.  We are grateful to have others to share life with.  We are grateful for teams that come from America and run student camps.  We are grateful for a generous host family that doesn’t mind watching our kids.  We are grateful to be chosen to be part of this journey.      TONYA

Sights, Sounds and Smells - August 19, 2010

I have a moment of complete silence while the kids are gone with Scott and Jeff to play volleyball at the church and April is resting – moments of silence are a rare treasure in house of 9 people and 2 dogs.

I decided to dedicate today’s blog to the senses.  Last night while lying in bed I stopped my mind for a few a minutes and just breathed in the smells and soaked in the sounds.  The windows in our bedroom were open so the smells were from outside not in.  The smell was dry and dusty and full of wood smoke.  They burn fires to stay warm and to cook.  There is always a faint smell of smoke in the air no matter where you go in Botswana.  I took notice of the sounds last night.  They were the sounds of mostly dogs barking – not the dogs that live in the house with us – but all the dogs for blocks and blocks.  It reminded me of “101 Dalmatians” when they sound the alert and one dog calls the next one and they keep passing it on.  There was the occasional sound of a car passing on a back street but mostly dogs.  The sight last night on the back patio was a sky full of stars and a bright moon – wide open – no street lights to dull the view. I thought about all of us seeing the same moon no matter where we are in this great world. The sky was absolutely stunning and the air was crisp and cool.  We stayed out a while after dinner just to soak in the beauty of the night.

The evening time at sunset is my favorite time of day.  It is that time I as I write 5:30 pm, the sun is hiding leaving the sky a peachy pink color and the air is cooling.  The birds are all singing, chirping and flitting about. There is more road traffic and people walking.  The people here walk everywhere.  The women tie their babies to their backs and carry umbrellas for shade.  We have seen lots of women balancing large buckets or bundles of wood on their heads as they walk.  I guess the most interesting sight are the cows just wandering.  We were riding in the middle of town a couple of days ago and here comes this group of about 10 cows walking right along the side of the road and then right across the middle of traffic.  I couldn’t believe it.  They were all by themselves there was no one to guide them or keep them together.   The goats are the same way there is just a lot more of them when you see a group wandering.

I ponder these things and thank God for His beautiful creation.  I thank Him for familiar things like sounds and smells that are all the same in this Big world He created.  I thank Him that He loves us ALL!!!!       TONYA

As Tonya pondered the 5 senses of the mind, I was about to loose mine, my mind that is.  I know God uses people around us to give us teaching moments and to let us know He is orchestrating a wonderful world around us.  But today I felt like a hamster running in a wheel to nowhere as I went from place to place and building to building in this 15 square mile city.  First of all the agent we are using to help with document control and to speed up the process is as organized as Josh and Joe.   I did notice a lot people sitting and waiting at least we were going upstairs, down stairs, down the hall, up the hall if you catch my drift.  We started the adventure at 10:00 AM to make fingerprints for Tonya and me.   By 4:00 PM I had paid the government of Botswana $100 USD and still no fingerprints.  Here is what I did get for at day of running around and $120 later:

You take passport photos in front of the immigration office under a tree with a blue sheet behind you for government photos.  I got to meet a young lady working part time because she is out of school who was studying theology.  She wants to work with children but knows nowhere in Botswana who is doing this.  I got her name and email address after I told her why I was in Botswana.  She then told me the Lord provides and He will provide a way for her to go into ministry.  I saw places so modern and up to date that rival a lot of cities in the US and then around the corner, people sweeping the sidewalks with hand made broom heads.  I saw goats and chickens in the streets walking as if they owned the place, stopping traffic and another delay in my effort as we drove all over Botswana.  Everywhere I went, someone had a story of why they were there no matter how much of a hurry I was in to receive the documents so I could get my fingers printed.  I received another promise to meet at 10:00 am for fingerprints.  In the US we do not talk to people around us and our convenience stores and shopping prevent us from having relational conversations with the people God has put around us.  I will be rested tonight to be ready for the hamster race tomorrow.  God is good and God provides in His own time.  My journey today was a reminder of who is in control, it is not me.         Scott

Botswana Day 8

Busy, Busy Day!! We all headed in different directions this morning.  Scott headed to the church to get stuff needed for resident permits so he could claim our container from the moving company here.  Hunter and Chandler headed to a day camp for teens being run by a short-term mission team from Indiana.  Me and the other boys went shopping with April to start getting household items together.  Normally shopping is a fun thing to do but when 3 little boys are in tow and when there is no such thing as “Wal-Mart” it is not near as much fun.  When shopping in Botswana you have to go to different stores to get different items.  Curtains  - “Sheet Street”.  Household items (brooms, toilet brushes, picture frames, etc.) – “Game”.  Electronics and appliances – “Home Corp”. Groceries, laundry detergent, fresh baked bread – “Pic n Pay”…….starting to get the picture??? Therefore shopping takes the whole day.  I have decided that there is no need to shop around, if I see it and I need it I just get it.  I have been told if I wait and come back tomorrow it might not be there anyway! 

Enough about shopping.  The biggest accomplishment of the day for me was driving for the first time.  April was a great driving coach – gently reminding me to keep to the left. Not so gently counting  every time I used the windshield wipers instead of the blinker – which was quit often (9 times to be exact).  Driving was not as difficult as I had worked it up in my mind to be.  It actually came pretty naturally – I told April  it was all those prayers that were sent up on my behalf.  The Lord took away all of my fears and anxiety.  Driving was actually easier than shopping!!!  The biggest accomplishment of the day for Scott was waiting for 2 hours to get the resident permit – (which by the Joshua was left off of).  All that means is he has to go back tomorrow and wait 2 more hours to add Joshua.  Scott also made it to freight forwarder to claim our container where he got chewed out by a woman and sent to customs. He went to customs and waited 45 minutes and finally got clearance.  We still aren’t completely clear.  We both have to go back tomorrow to get fingerprinted and to take the original title to the Suburban.  Scott thinks we will be done after that and schedule delivery to the rental house.  Please continue pray.  We see everyday how God is working in all of the details.  He tells us in His word that He goes before us and behind us.  He hems us in!!  We continue to stand in AWE of HIM!!!   - Tonya

One Week!

It's already been a week since we said our goodbyes at the Airport in Columbia.  Some moments it feels like it has been a month and other moments feel like that was only yesterday.  So many mixed feelings and emotions rolling around in me.  Overall it has been a great week.  We have been so blessed to have been greeted and hosted by the Sukups.  Jeff and April have been so gracious to us and are very patient with helping us getting everything in order.  April has escorted us all around the city to get us familiar with driving and the location of grocery stores and etc.  I don't think I would have made it through this week had we not been here with them.  I am thanking God everyday for Jeff and April Sukup!!

Today we finalized the lease on our rental home.  The Lord has provided a very nice home with some extra space to host guests or small teams.  We feel very blessed to have secured this property.  We went and test drove a car - I should say this is the MOST stressful thing we have done thus far.  The vehicle is owned by IMB missionaries and is a very nice SUV - "Condor".  The problem is that is rather large ( not as large as the Suburban that is headed across the ocean to us ) and is a stick shift!! This would be the vehicle I would have to drive and that is way more than I can handle at this point.  Remember it is hard enough to get used to driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the left side of the car and then to add a stick!!! WHEW too much for me!!  Parking in the city is very tight as well - so there would be very few places to park a large vehicle.  We decided to continue to look for something smaller with an automatic transmission.  Please pray that God would provide exactly what we need - Just as He has through this whole process! I still haven't gotten behind the drivers wheel.  I am just beginning to have an idea of my around town so maybe that will come soon.  Please pray that the Lord will calm my fears about driving and that I would be confident when I decide to drive.

Yesterday was our 1st Sunday at Open Baptist Church.  We were introduced at both services and met wonderful people of the congregation.  OBC is such a picture of what Heaven will be like - there are so many different people from so many different nations!  It was a great day of worship.  We did get a small amount of rest before we headed to the game reserve to see some animals.  The kids were so excited to finally get to go.  You normally pay a very small fee per person to drive thru but the man didn't have anything to write a receipt on so he told us to go in for free.  That was a nice treat.  The kids stood up in the van (we are borrowing the church van until we get a vehicle) sticking half their bodies out of the sunroof.  They loved seeing the warthogs, monkeys, ostrich, impala, Kudoo, and Eland.  At the very end of our trip through we got to see some Zebra - everyone was excited about that.  We headed back to church to help out with "God Zone".  "God Zone" is the programming for kids on Sunday night.  The small room was packed with kids from 7months to 15years.  There were 2 other adults besides Scott, Jeff (the guy we are staying with) and myself.  We immediately went to work.  Hunter helped get the craft ready - we made salvation bracelets, Scott got our twins situated as participants,  Parker jumped right in with the other kids and I hipped a baby around (everyone knows that didn't hurt my feelings at all)!! Chandler didn't quit know where his place was so he hung to the back and watched.  It was a good night - just very chaotic.  Affirmed the need to train and equip leaders.  Please continue to pray that God would lead us in our ministry!

We love you all and miss everyone! We are grateful for all of your love, support, words of encouragement, and prayers!!     Tonya

Day 4

Wow – when I type Day 4 as the title of this post I think to myself, “you mean we’ve only been here 4 days?”  But then I put it in perspective 2 days are missing due to travel.  I always expect too much too fast!!! It’s an urgency issue.  I want everything done right now.  My mom used to say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Today we woke up early  -  7am ( that would be 1 am according to our internal clocks) and headed to Kumokwanne.  The village is about 30 minutes from where we are staying.  When we arrived the villagers were gathered awaiting our arrival.  We introduced ourselves to all of the kids and tried to learn some names.  We sang a few songs and they taught us a couple.  The kids were very  intrigued with Josh and Joe’s Ben Ten light up tennis shoes.  They huddled around  them to see the shoes in action.  My children were very friendly.  Parker even took the lead to teach them a few new songs.  He did the silly shark song and the fruit song  (I didn’t even know both of these.)  The village kids loved it.  We met the Chief of the village and went into the building that used for their court.  There were probably 200 people gathered inside.  There was a small service – a few songs, a couple of speakers, a prayer and Scott did a brief lesson.  He spoke about God knowing our needs.  He explained temporary needs verse eternal needs and those needs only being  met by Jesus.  He did a wonderful job! At the end of the service the clothes were distributed to the village kids.  They were very excited and grateful.  We look forward to returning to the village to see all of the kids again.

We were treated to lunch today at a pizza place – that’s the closest thing to American food we have had.  It was very delicious – even the little boys loved it.

The afternoon was spent back at the potential rental home negotiating the lease.  Please pray for our discernment in this situation.  The lease price that we thought was already agreed on was already pushing our budget limit for housing and the lessor asked to increase the rent today.  We told him we would pray about what we needed to do and get back with him.  We don’t have any peace about this sudden change in rent.  We will go tomorrow and look at another possible rental and try to make a more informed decision after that.  Please Pray that we would know exactly how to handle this situation.

We have been so blessed to be hosted by a wonderful couple  - April and Jeff Sukup – they are missionaries here from Tampa FL.  They have been so accommodating and very gracious hosts.  We returned home from lease negotiations to a wonderful dinner of Lasagna, fresh baked bread and homemade chocolate cake.  When I say homemade I mean from scratch.  I keep telling my kids that April is spoiling them – they are eating like Kings!!  The boys love living here with the 2 dogs.  I’m not sure who is most tired at the end of the day -  Josh and Joe or the dogs J 

Tomorrow we head to church for the 8am and 10am services to be introduced to the congregation.  Thank for all of your prayers.

Love, Tonya

Day 3

Day 3

Today we went shopping for items that are not part of the rental house.  At the top of my  personal list was a refrigerator, washing machine, and dishwasher. We got the fridge and washing machine secured but are still looking for a dishwasher. We also got one cell phone today.  It takes a lot of driving around town and looking for the best prices so the process of getting 3 things on the list took a long time.  By the way Scott did all of the driving today. I was very proud of him! Besides putting the windshield wipers on every time he wanted to turn, he only gave us one little scare. The church loaned us one of their vans until we can purchase another car.  Praying we won’t have any issues before we get it returned.  I am really dreading the whole driving thing.  I haven’t the least idea how to get around town -  much less drive on the wrong side of the road.  April (the lady we are staying with) keeps trying to get me behind the wheel.  I just keep refusing.  I think I need to ride a while longer before I try. 

Tomorrow we plan to sign the lease on the house. The house has what we need in order to have room for teams and visitors but the lease is crazy to read.  Hope we figure it out with the landlord tomorrow. We should be able to move in September 1^st.  Not too much longer to live as nomads J

 Before we go to the house we are going to the village of Kumokwanne to help distribute clothing to 90 children. This is a first time project of OBC (Open Baptist Church).  The congregation adopted a child and bought either a sweatsuit or jacket for the list of names given to them.  They will have a short worship service and Scott has been asked to present the gospel to the children.  This is our first opportunity to be serving among the kids – very exciting. Our whole family is going for the festivities tomorrow.  Praying my kids hearts will be excited with possibilities but not overwhelmed with sadness due to all of the need we will see.   

When we return to the city tomorrow afternoon, we are going to the game reserve to see animals.  Our boys are so excited. I don’t think Josh and Joe believe we are in Africa yet, because so far they have not seen any thing other than goats, cows, donkeys (all just wandering along the sides of the roads) and of course dogs.  Cats don’t seem to be very popular here.  Either the Chinese restaurants got them (lol) all or they are just not welcomed. 

            Overall I think everyone is doing Okay being here.  I think when we settle in to a routine and have our own home things will feel more real.  Please continue to pray for our transition.      - Tonya

Day 2 Botswana

8:00 am and the house is so quiet.  Everyone is asleep and the dogs do not know I am awake yet.  Take that back they just made their presence known.  Praising God and rejoicing in the age of technology He has allowed us to live in today.  Last night, I was able to talk with and see our parents, one our friends daughter and most excited to see Makenzie.  This is an amazing time we live in to serve our Lord.  This makes the hardship of leaving family and friends behind so much easier.  The children are ready to see Africa, so we are going to attempt to go out into the area today and look around.  I do not think they will see animals but you never know.

The children got to see around town and shop.  We had to purchase hoodies because we packed all the winter clothing on the shipment.  They are all fascinated with how large the plants grow here.   We still have lots of smiles and excitement from our boys.  They did not see any animals today.  Planning a trip to the reserve on Saturday, we have been told the Rhinos are herding at one spot before they move north.

Visited a pastor’s conference where 148 pastors were in attendance.  Tonya and I were introduced and our mission was explained to all of them. We are here to equip pastors and churches with training and resources to have vibrant children’s ministry.  If there ever was a doubt for such a need as our ministry, it was confirmed today.  So many pastors from Zambia, Zimbabwe and all over Botswana saying how important it was for Africa to reach its children with the gospel but no one knows how best to minister to children.  We received a blessing from the pastors by having a pastor from each of the countries represented surrounded us and lay hands on us and pray for us.  The entire group prayed for us as they laid their hands on us.  This was such a blessing and God’s way of assuring His plan and purpose for us in Africa.  One of the things that one of the pastors prayed really struck me today.  He told the Lord that none of us are experts (and I thought how especially true that was for us)  but we were all willing to work together to reach the children for Him. This work is far more than Botswana.  God has us planting seed here but there’s so much harvest here. 

Lesson learned today, humbleness in knowing our Mighty God would choose my family for His glory and the only requirement from us was to say yes.  I do not need to add anything to the story as I watch it build around us.  God’s plan and speed is perfect.  

Day 1 in Botswana

It was such joy to see a sign saying “Welcome Shipes Family to Botswana”.  The Schaefers and Sukups were waiting with large smiles and hugs for a well traveled family.   The checked luggage did not make it but we were assured it will arrive the next day.  Our host family the Sukups fed us well and got us to sleep in comfortable beds.  We awoke to quiet noise, the sounds of children playing outside and the hum of electricity in the house.  Sounds not heard at home before because of phone ringing, DS’s, Wii, TV and the A/C cutting on and off.   The Sukups are a brave couple to let us stay with them for the next 2 weeks.  Once the family woke up quiet was history.   They have 2 dogs who have met their match playing with the “Thunders”.  It was a loud house for most of the day.

The bags made it without a problem through customs.  Botswana people like to talk and tell you how they are doing.  They speak honestly and truthfully.  Unlike in the US they will not tell you "fine".  I met the following people just getting my bags.  David, who walked us to our bags, had a broken toe but is doing much better.  It hurts to walk but he needs the work for his family.  Grace, who released our luggage, was starting to get a cold and was not enjoying the cold, windy air this morning.  Julian, who helped put the bags in our trailer, said he was doing well this day and look forward to many travelers to come (tips).   

Lesson for the day, do not be in a hurry and be ready to listen to how people are doing that God has put in your path.  Everyone has a story, God wants us to hear what He is doing in their lives.  We here to move along side the Botswana people.  I will pray for David's toe and Grace's cold to get better.

Day 1 has been a good first day.  Thank you God for reminding me to listen and slow down.  This is how we hear Him and see what He is doing.

In His Step,

Scott Shipes

Makenzie

It's hard for me to know where to begin.... It seems like only yesterday I was bringing you home from the hospital and now I am in awe of the beautiful young woman you have grown to be. I am so proud to be your mom. I am a better person because you are in my life. You inspire me to grow in my walk with the Lord, in my relationship with your Dad, and in my relationships with others. Thank you for your encouragement, support and love!!! I love all that you stand for and how strong your convictions are. I love the way you love Jesus - even when it is hard! Your faith is incredible! I pray you continue to learn, to love and to grow closer to God and to others. You are a shining example to so many that are watching you!!! SHINE ON GIRL!!!

We've known for a year that this goodbye was coming and that this one was going to be the hardest one. There was nothing to do to prepare our hearts for this separation except to enjoy the time we had together. I remember reading a book by Karen Kingsbury where she talked about holding on to the lasts. She tells about remembering every first but not cherishing our "lasts". This summer I believe we have cherished our lasts. I have loved every minute and have been grateful to God for allowing us to spend this summer together. Isn't it neat to see how He works out details of our life for what is best for us. I know you were sad that you didn't get the camp job but I was so happy because you would be with us. I loved watching you hanging out with your brothers, chatting with your Dad, playing with your cousins, and seeing you use your talents to glorify Him during VBS!!

Even though we will be continents apart our hearts are bound together like a cord of 3 strands (God, you, me). Because of the love we share and relationship we have, time nor space can separate us! Pretty Awesome thought huh?? I know this is tough but I also know you support us in our call and for that I am so grateful!! I cherish what you told us during your Dad's ordination -"that we had been wonderful parents to you and now there were children in Africa that needed the love we had given to you. So you released us with your love and prayers and complete blessing." Thank you sweetheart!!!

I never planned for saying this goodbye. I just knew one day I would be putting you on that plane to go to the uttermost parts of the world! That has been your hearts desire since you were 12 - I never expected to go before you but God had other plans and HIs are perfect!!!

So...I say goodbye for now knowing that you are firm in the palm of God's hand. Completely trusting Him to minister to your every need and looking forward already to seeing you in Botswana this Christmas!!

I love you my Baby Girl!!!

Mom

What A Year Jehovah Jireh!

One year ago this month, God made it clear His call for me and my family in Africa.  It started the year before when my heart was left there during a mission trip with Alice Drive Baptist Church.  My love and concern for the eternal growth for its people and knowing the only hope was in their children, a resource they mostly ignored and saw of no value until they became adults was overwhelming.  Then a year later at breakfast on my second trip to Botswana with Clay Smith and Norman Shaeffer God revealed His plan and a way for me and my family to serve Him in Botswana, as missionaries for children.  We wrote down the costs and what all three of us needed to pray about for this to happen.  We would go as independent missionaries who are self supported by friends, family and local churches.  First item on the list was call my wife Tonya and get her to Botswana if she said yes.  There was no hesitation, the answer was yes and when do I come.  God had been building her heart along with mine for missions.  I was at peace about my decision and God confirmed it when the former President of Botswana sat beside me and Clay on the plane home.  This man stirred my heart the year before when he made a video telling his people the hope of Botswana was in it's children, the same hope God laid on my heart.

Tonya and I went back in October wondering how this was going to actually take place. It was raining when we arrived.  I never saw clouds or rain on my previous visits, it was a joy to see, the Lord provides.  The Botswana people have a big heart and reached out to us graciously.  There is a strong value for family and fellowship.  We meet a number of people at church and rode to many places around the city and were always greeted with kindness and questions.

First item of the Lords provision was our children's education.  Public school not an option and home school would take away from the two of us working together, private school was best option for our children's education.  Our problem is the cost is very expensive and we felt our supporters should not have to pay the costs to educate our children.   We thought that our family as a whole was not supposed to go that the two of us would only come 3 times a year for a month.  Pastor Norman reminded us that we did our part by saying yes to Him, the rest is God's business and He will provide.  We received a phone call that night telling us the school considered our reason for coming and reduced the cost to 10% of the actual fee to attend school.  From that point on Tonya and I agreed we would do our best to get out of God's way as He provided a way for us to serve in Botswana.

The next day we attended a prayer meeting at the church and it was a blessing.  We split up into small prayer groups and went over needs and requests and prayed over each other.  Then the singing began that impacted my heart and thinking for the rest of the week.  They song about Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider - He keeps on doing great things.  Hearing people sing such a song after hearing so many hard needs to fill and experiencing God the day before with the school broke me.  It broke me of myself reliance that I have to be in control and can do all the things that need to be done.  Without God I am nothing, with me doing it all He is nothing, God wants the glory and praise as our Provider.  We heard that song and sang that song probably for the first time in our lives.  We were ready for God to be our Jehovah Jireh and go to work around us so we could serve Him.

Jehovah Jireh started with overwhelming support from Alice Drive Baptist in Sumter.  I quit my job of 25 years to work along side my wife at Alice Drive Baptist.  I never looked back and enjoyed such a tremendous learning experience of how church life works and to serve the leaders in the children's department.  We enjoyed ministry life and watching God grow us and the people around us.  Millbrook Baptist surrounded us with love and the Harmon Sunday School Class adopted us as their own during their Global Impact Conference.

God continued our provsions by selling our house in a very soft market.  He allowed us to sell or give to those in need all of our items we owned.  We shipped a car and a few personal items to Africa.  We have been able to live out of suitcases like nomads since July 8th.  God provides friends and family to stay with them until we leave for Botswana.  My kids have commented the best time they have had as a family was living upstairs at Alice Drive Baptist during VBS.  We played, ate and slept in close quarters but we had so much fun.  It was just honest fun and a whole lot of laughter.  I have to admit it was fun up there.  God has provided this time for our family to connect and hold together before we depart.

We made a list of a number of items that needed to be done for us to make this next step in our lives.   I can say honestly, God has provided and the list is complete.  The biggest items were selling our house, finding a house in Botswana and Makenzie.  The hardest part of all this is leaving my 19 year old daughter here in the states to attend college.  College is not an option for her there.  We thought she was not going to spend our last summer together because she was going to work a student camp all summer.  That did not happen and she was upset because at the time she felt nothing was happening in her favor lately.  We are so glad she did not go to camp.  We had a fantastic summer, the beach, camping, the lake, the mountains and VBS.  One of the items on my list was for someone to be in her life to help her while we are gone, to be there for her as a friend and agreed that if God wanted this person to be guy I was OK with it.  At the end of the summer Makenzie is now dating a class act guy named Tyler, who knows our family and all its craziness for one another and our love for Makenzie.   As her father, I never thought anyone would be welcomed into our home that dated her.  5 brothers and myself is a hard wall to break through.  He did just fine and he survived Chandler's jabs about holding his sister's hand.  I am glad he is here for Makenzie.

We leave for Botswana knowing he has provided all the details small and large for our journey.  We have a large task ahead of us in Botswana.  We have a goal, to equip churches with resources to reach children with the gospel of Christ.  I know God will provide during the good-byes, the missing family on quiet days, and when there times we need to talk and technology does not do the job.  I look forward to serving God in Botswana because we as a family love Him so much.  We always said we fear more telling God, no, than telling God, yes.  There will be difficult times with the blessed times but I can walk forward because He called us, He worked in the hearts of His people to make a way for us, He sends us and has proven He is Jehovah Jireh.

Grace

Grace is a word we are experiencing a lot these past few days.  I honestly did not understand how powerful it is until we are living in it right now.  What did we do to deserve to have such a God, family, friends and a church to love us so much?  The only answer I can come up with is nothing. We are where we are supposed to be because of obedience and joy.  I need to start this conversation with the fact I did not want to go to Sumter, SC when I was asked to move there 6 years ago.  Obedience, gladness and joy were not part of this journey in the beginning.  I was happy where I was at in Aiken, SC.  I had family near by, good friends and a church we loved serving.  The only reason we went was my lovely, obedient and supportive wife said she would go.  Something I never thought would happen and was prepared to tell everyone we were not going because of Tonya (truth is ugly sometimes and I was prepared to use it to take the blame off me and put it on Tonya).  The week we moved to Sumter, Tonya sat on our porch and she said, "this is home now, I am excited to see what God has for us here".

We have learned to know now what "go" and "grow" means for the Shipes family.  Because God had plans for our family to go to Sumter, SC we grew by two, our friends and friendship grew (our Aiken friends did not move away in our hearts, they stayed with us), we discovered new ways to worship and fellowship and we experienced God in ways we never could imagine.  Had we stayed in Aiken, it would have been difficult for us to allow kingdom growth around us.  I see that so clearly now.  His grace and provision allowed us to trust in Him so he could expand His kingdom around us.  We see there are no boundaries with God only opportunities.  If we allow Him to have freedom in lives, He will give us freedom to love in amazing ways.

Through His amazing love we have experienced new life, marriages saved from divorce, babies not aborted, couples mentored and married, children come to know the Lord as Savior, rescue and relief after hurricanes, fellowship in strange lands, families who would have been comfortable in one place move to far corners of the world, miracle healings, comfort in unexplainable deaths and the joy of hospitality.  All because "God so loved the World" to go past His boundaries to show His capacity for love and grace.  The more we take this next step in our lives, the more powerful grace becomes.  We do not deserve the out pouring of love we are receiving right now but what joy it is to have it.  We know it is God around us using obedient people to be part of His work.  Thank you God for your love, support and letting us be part of your Kingdom.  Grace.